Are you worried about being bored to death over summer vacation? You don’t have to worry any more! Thanks to Super Librarian and the staff at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, people of all ages can sign up for the Summer Reading Clubs online at librarypoint.org or at their local library branches starting on June 1.

When the vaudevillians came to summer in Bluffton, they brought with them an elephant, a zebra, and a young actor named Buster Keaton. Henry Harrison is a regular kid from the nearby town. Upon meeting the showbiz folks, Henry is entranced by their world of gags and tricks.

I am not afraid of snakes. I find them fascinating, and as a child I even saved my allowance to purchase one as a pet. In recent years, I’ve encountered many copperheads; the ones in the yard are no problem, I simply give them a wide berth and continue on my way. It’s those I’ve met while gardening that make me nervous. There’s nothing like happily weeding down a row only to arrive at the tail of a coiled poisonous snake. Once, a baby’s bright yellow tail tip even stroked my hand in its efforts to escape my rustling. I started to carry my cell phone and “announce” my presence before sticking my hands in, but I was still afraid a copperhead would misinterpret my gardening as a threat and lash out teeth first! So I did some research on copperheads and what happens if you’re bitten. Now, when I start to feel nervous, I remind myself that although poisonous, a copperhead bite isn’t deadly, and that I definitely want to ask for the anti-venom before finding out how much it costs. This knowledge has helped me face my fear and continue a beloved hobby. While not a guaranteed cure, the power of knowledge can be a great reassurance. Here are some books that might help soothe your wary loved ones.

Two-time Caldecott medalist Nonny Hogrogrian grew up in a stone house in the Bronx, New York which had belonged to her family for three generations. She came from a hard-working and artistic family with strong Armenian roots. When very young she would settle into a big chair in the home library and page through books of beautifully illustrated children’s stories dreaming about one day drawing such pictures herself.

Before you finally finish your grade and head out for a summer of fun, there’s still one more thing to do. Your teachers have worked hard all year to get you ready for your future. So now it’s time to think about a little way to say thanks for all they do. Teachers are special people. They do not go into the job for the money they can make. The best teachers are there because they love to teach.

As the school year winds down into lazy summer days, take a little time to thank your teachers. Not everybody can afford to hand out gift certificates, so here are some thoughtful, inexpensive ways to let your teachers know you care.

I'm a Shark is a hilarious book about fear by madcap master Bob Shea. We meet an awesome shark who declares himself unafraid of anything. Shots, scary movies, and dinosaurs are nothing to this undersea predator. That's when a tiny crab and fish happen to mention spiders.

Once Upon an Alphabet is as ambitious as picture books come. Author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers presents 26 short tales, each based on a different letter of the alphabet. An astronaut who is afraid of heights, a daredevil girl who laughs in the face of death, and a lightning-struck lumberjack are just a few of characters we meet.